Wanting to do something different on Cucamonga Peak, hitched a ride up to Baldy Village and then hiked up Icehouse to the saddle and continued the usual route up Cucamonga Peak. Triggered lots of small slides up to the summit. I knew the snow down the south side reached ~4,000' level so I went down the drainage from the peak glissading about a couple thousand feet and then riding on the slide I had triggered for another 500 or so until I started sinking in. Did the usual swimming motion and when everything stopped and set up like concrete, my head and one arm was free. Took a long time to free myself, scary to be caught in something like that. Took a long time to reach Alta Loma.

A great day in the mountains. Still a fair amount of snow from the Cucamonga saddle to the summit. We talked to a few folks who turned back because of that, but it didn’t create any major difficulties for us. We eventually gave up on the mostly snow covered trail, and did some light bushwhacking up the northwest ridge to the summit. Here’s a trip-report and some photos.

Nice hike today, intermittent patches of snow from Icehouse Saddle to the Saddle between Bighorn and Cucamonga. Lots of snow on the North Side, nearly all the way to the top of Cucamonga, though the summit was bare. Fun Day.

I've ascended Cucamonga about a half a dozen times. It's a great hike year round. It's fun to spend the night up there as well. Great view of the valley. You feel so far away from people when you see houses just a few thousand feet below.

If you do this on the right day YOU CAN SEE FOREVER! Very straight forward trail. After the first hour, you are on your own for water. Once yu get past the Icehouse saddle you probably are done seeing people. Nice 6 to 8 hour hike.

I arrived at the Icehouse trailhead around 7:30am and had a bit of trouble parking. I eventually found a parking space and hit the trail around 7:45am. I ran into several large groups of people, apparently in some sort of walking group, headed down about 1/2 mile up the trail. Once they passed, I was pretty much alone most of the way, only running into a few hikers as I took a break at the saddle. The rest of the hike to the peak was solitary, quiet and wonderful. I was completely alone on the peak for roughly 45 minutes and ran into a single hiker as I started my descent.

I couldn't really see much from the peak due to the fog that blanketed the valley below and out as far as my eye could see. It was forecasted to burn off by noon, but it never did. All that I could see were the peaks from distant mountains (San Gregornio, San Jacinto, Saddleback, etc...) jutting out from the billowy cloud cover. But I honestly wasn't disappointed. It was an absolutely beautiful and peaceful experience.

All in all, it was a perfect day for a perfect hike and I am looking forward to doing it again.

We bagged Timber Peak during the night and had planned on hitting the 3 T's! Once we got to the top we decided to hit up Cucamonga which we've done before just to get a closer view of the big bear fire. It was great to watch it at night, pictures don't describe it!

Started the hike at around 9pm. Perfect conditions for hiking and I was surprised by the view at the top. I have done all the big ones (San Gorgonio, Mt. Baldy, etc) but this hike has amazing views all the way around! We waited till sunrise came and after it blew us all away hiked down and then ran into alot of people coming up. Do it at night and enjoy the mountain alone!

The best way to avoid the crowds on this, or any hike to Icehouse Saddle, is to come up from the east side via the Middle Fork of Lytle Creek, which is a great wilderness hike, normally no one on the trail. Did it twice, first time made the summit, 2nd time as part of an overnight backpacking trip, got caught in a beautiful snow fall, large fluffy flakes and no wind. My hiking partner, Carol, got too cold from wet feet so we turned around short of the summit.

Decided to go last minute Sat morning, started my hike a bit after 10:30 pretty warm day. Saw the usual crowds going up Icehouse. And about 10 people on the summit, much more than expected. Great views to Catalina!!